Online event aims to ‘unite Prides in Africa’

Pride organisations around Africa have come together to organise a ‘Uniting Prides in Africa’ online event on Saturday, 26 September 2020.

This in response to the multitude of Pride celebrations that have been cancelled or postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic and because of the rights that continue to be abused throughout the African continent.

“Uniting Prides in Africa will use online platforms to deliver a Pride in which everyone can participate, wherever they are in Africa and the world,” said the organisers.

It will include musical performances, speeches, and key messages from human rights activists. The event will be live-streamed, and people will be invited to join in the event from home.

United Prides in Africa is being held in conjunction with Prides and Pride organisations from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Kenya, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Tunisia and Eswatini – to name a few – with more organisations joining to come together and represent the African continent.

In addition to these organisations, there will be a bevvy of top artists and speakers to lend their voice to unsung voices across the African continent.

“This event will give people from across the continent the opportunity to view and participate in a Pride event of this magnitude and nature,” said Matthew Van As, Production Coordinator of Uniting Prides of Africa.

“This will be a time to remember, reflect and foster personal Pride across the African continent but also celebrate the steps that we have taken as a community. In many spaces in Africa people can not celebrate Pride or even mention being part of the LGBTIQA+ community. This platform will give those folks a space to let their voices be heard.”

“A project that I have always wanted to do is African LGBTIQA+ history. A story from the people to the people,” added Thomas Patterson,  Director of United Prides of Africa. “We need to enshrine our history. As the years go by, many of our leaders pass away without their story being heard. We feel that this is the time to start this project and start building our history.”

There will be an open call for submissions of footage from the community. Keep an eye out for this on the United Prides of Africa Facebook page.